Internet Islamic History Sourcebook

This page is a subset of texts derived from the three major online Sourcebooks listed below, along with added texts and web site indicators. For more contextual
information, for instance about Western imperialism, or the history of a given period,
check out these web sites.

Sunan
Abu-Dawud, Partial translation, translator: Prof. Ahmad Hasan [At USC-MSA]
"Sunan Abu-Dawud is a collection of sayings and deeds of Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh) (also known as the sunnah). The reports of the Prophet's sayings and deeds are
called ahadith. Abu-Dawud lived a couple of centuries after the Prophet's deat and worked
extremely hard to collect his ahadith."

Malik (93-179 AH): Muwatta,
Translated by `A'isha `Abdarahman at-Tarjumana and Ya`qub Johnson. [At USC-MSA]
"Malik's Muwatta ("the well-trodden path") is a collection of two items:
the sayings and deeds of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) (also known as the sunnah). The reports
of the Prophet's sayings and deeds are called ahadith."

The Qu'ran,
trans. Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din Al-Hilali, [At The Noble Qu'ran]. This is an English
translation endorsed by the Saudi government. Includes Arabic commentary by Ibn Katheer,
Tabari, and Qurtubi. See also Catholic
Encyclopedia:
KORAN

Abul Hasan Ali Al-Masu'di (Masoudi) (ca. 895?-957 CE): The Book of Golden Meadows,
c. 940 CE
Masu'di - "the Arab Suetonius" or "the Arab Herodotus" -
specialized in a history which went beyond chronology to look at themes and individual
anecdotes. This is an extensive selection on various caliphs.

Famous Muslim Scientist Lists
The lists below seem to be part of a certain genre of list creation, usually to
make the claim (which is true) that Islam had a glorious role in the history of science.
Non of them seem to address what happened after c. 1500 (the Western Intrusion was not
until c. 1800, so it will not do as an "excuse".)

Al Hariri of Basrah (446-516 A.H./1054-1122 CE): Maqamat, (The
Assemblies), c. 1100 CE, 12 of the 50 "assemblies". Maqamat (singular Maqamah) were a popular sort of Arabic entertainment literature (adab).
This is perhaps the most popular example.

Ibn Fadlan. Risala 921 CE [At
VikingAnswerLady]
Ibn Fadlan -an Arab chronicler. In 921 C.E., the Caliph sent Ibn Fadlan with an embassy
to the King of the Bulgars of the Middle Volga. Ibn Fadlan wrote an account of his
journeys with the embassy, called a Risala. This Risala is of great value as a
history, although it is clear in some places that inaccuracies and Ibn Fadlan's own
prejudices have slanted the account to some extent.

Ibn Rushd (Averroës) (1126-1198 CE): Religion & Philosophy,
c. 1190 CE.
The text is On the Harmony of Religions and Philosophy, or in Arabic Kitab
fasl al-maqal, with its appendix (Damina). Appended is an extract from Kitab al-kashf`an manahij al-adilla. Averroes was also a major influence on
Western thinkers.

2ND Richard Burton: Terminal Essay, from his
edition of the Arabian Nights.
Burton' compilation of data on variety of societies was meant to explain some of the
stories in The Nights. In doing so, he provided first overview of Islamic
homosexuality.

Ibn al-Athir: On The Tatars, 1220-1221CE
The effects of the Mongols in Persia.

Bar Sauma (c. 1278-1313): The Monk of Kublai Khan, Emperor of
China; or The History of the Life and Travels of Rabban Sawma, Envoy and
Plenipotentiary of the Mongol Khans to the Kings of Europe and Markos who as Yahbh-Allaha
III Became Patriarch of the Nestorian Church. Translated by E.A. Wallis Budge,
London: The Religious Track Society, 1928. [At Traveling to Jerusalem/U Sth
Colorado]

Islamic World: Country Studies
Prepared for Library of Congress under the Country Studies/Area Handbook Program sponsored by the Department of the Army. These are full descriptions of the countries
concerned, in terms of history, geography, economy, etc. There are also useful
bibliographies. [At LOC]

The First Crusade, 1099 (Col) A clickable map of all of Europe in 1099 Source: Adaptation of "Europe at the
time of the First Crusade", in Muir's Historical Atlas: Medieval and Modern,
(London: 1911) [At Medieval Sourcebook]

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